February 3, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Louise Taylor!

525 years ago
1488

Exploration
Bartolomeu Dias of Portugal landed in Mossel Bay in what is now South Africa after rounding the Cape of Good Hope, becoming the first European to travel so far south.

230 years ago
1783

Diplomacy
Spain recognized the independence of the United States of America.

200 years ago
1813

Died on this date
Samuel, Ashe, 87. U.S. politician. Mr. Ashe was Governor of North Carolina from 1795-1798.

War
In the Argentine War of Independence, Argentine General José de San Martín defeated Spanish royalist forces in the Battle of San Lorenzo.

100 years ago
1913

Law
The 16th Amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified. It reads:

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

75 years ago
1938

Happy birthday, Emile Griffith!.
U.S. boxer. A native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mr. Griffith held the world welterweight title from April-September 1961, March 1962-March 1963, and June 1963-April 1966. He defeated Dick Tiger in 1966 to win the world middleweight championship, lost the title to Nino Benvenuti in April 1967, regained the title that September, then lost the title to Mr. Benvenuti again in March 1968. Mr. Griffith was also recognized by the Austrian Boxing Board of Control as the inaugural world champion in the light middleweight division from 1962-1963. He was The Ring magazine's Fighter of the Year for 1964. Mr. Griffith is best remembered for three fights against Benny "The Kid" Paret in 1961 and 1962. Mr. Griffith won the title from Mr. Paret in the first fight, and lost the title in the rematch. Before the weigh-in for the third fight, Mr. Paret reportedly called Mr. Griffith a "maricon," Spanish for "faggot." Mr. Griffith had to be restrained from attacking Mr. Paret on the spot. In the fight, on March 24, 1962, Mr. Griffith knocked Mr. Paret unconscious with a punch in the 12th round. Mr. Paret was still standing against the ropes, and referee Ruby Goldstein refused to stop the fight as Mr. Griffith landed 13 more punches. Mr. Griffith won the fight and the title with the knockout, and Mr. Paret died nine days later. The death of Mr. Paret resulted in widespread criticism of boxing, and NBC, which had televised the fight, dropped its boxing coverage for many years. The fight inspired a documentary film titled Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story (2005). Mr. Griffith remained haunted by Mr. Paret's death, and although he boxed until 1977, he scored just 12 knockouts in 80 remaining fights. He won just 9 of his last 23 fights, and retired with a record of 85 wins (25 by KO), 24 losses, 2 draws. Mr. Griffith, a member of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame, today reportedly suffers from pugilistic dementia and requires constant care.

70 years ago
1943

War
A German U-boat sank the USAT Dorchester, killing 672 of the 902 men aboard.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Mutiny Below, starring Eddie Albert, Murray Hamilton, and Cameron Prud'Homme



40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Block Buster--The Sweet (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Ben--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)
2 You're a Lady--Peter Skellern
3 Mouldy Old Dough--Lieutenant Pigeon
4 Nights in White Satin--The Moody Blues
5 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
6 Mad About You--Bruce Ruffin
7 I Can See Clearly Now--Johnny Nash
8 The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.--Donna Fargo
9 Mama Weer All Crazee Now--Slade
10 Popcorn--Hot Butter

Singles entering the chart were Why? by Donny Osmond (#25); It Never Rains in Southern California by Albert Hammond (#28); Sitting by Cat Stevens (#34); and Young Camp Stockman by Buster Noble (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Crocodile Rock--Elton John

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
2 Superstition--Stevie Wonder
3 Why Can't We Live Together--Timmy Thomas
4 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
5 Oh Babe, What Would You Say?--Hurricane Smith
6 Hi, Hi, Hi--Wings
7 Your Mama Don't Dance--Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
8 Trouble Man--Marvin Gaye
9 The World is a Ghetto--War
10 Love Jones--Brighter Side of Darkness

Singles entering the chart were Aubrey by Bread (#60); Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got) by the Four Tops (#64); Stir it Up by Johnny Nash (#67); Love is What You Make It by the Grass Roots (#68); Kissing My Love by Bill Withers (#72); One Less Set of Footsteps by Jim Croce (#81); Hello Hurray by Alice Cooper (#85); Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (#88); Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) by Deodato (#92); A Letter to Myself by the Chi-Lites (#94); We Did It by Syl Johnson (#99); and Sha La Boom Boom by Bobby Bloom (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Last Song--Edward Bear
2 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
3 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
4 You Are What I Am/That Same Old Obsession--Gordon Lightfoot
5 Your Mama Don't Dance--Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
6 Superstition--Stevie Wonder
7 Daytime Night Time--Keith Hampshire
8 Danny's Song--Anne Murray
9 Hi, Hi, Hi--Wings
10 I'm Gonna Love You Too--Terry Jacks

Singles entering the chart were I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) by the Moody Blues (#73); Killing Me Softly with His Song by Roberta Flack (#77); Could it Be I'm Falling in Love by the Spinners (#85); Oh What a Day by Andy Kim (#86); Ice on the Road by Fergus (#92); Yes by Fludd (#95); Trouble Man by Marvin Gaye (#96); Love Train by the O'Jays (#97); Don't Cross the River by America (#98); and Songman by Cashman & West (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 You're So Vain--Carly Simon (2nd week at #1)
2 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
3 Hi, Hi, Hi--Wings
4 Africa--Thundermug
5 Your Mama Don't Dance--Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
6 Long Dark Road--The Hollies
7 Pieces of April--Three Dog Night
8 If You Don't Know Me by Now--Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
9 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul
10 Control of Me--Les Emmerson
Pick hit of the week: Follow Your Daughter Home--The Guess Who

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
Canada's Top 30
1 Pass the Dutchie--Musical Youth
2 Baby Come to Me--Patti Austin
3 Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club
4 Africa--Toto
5 Shame on the Moon--Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
6 Goody Two Shoes--Adam Ant
7 Allentown--Billy Joel
8 I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)--Donald Fagen
9 When I'm With You--Sheriff
10 All of My Heart--ABC
11 Crazy--Supertramp
12 Heart to Heart--Kenny Loggins
13 Come On Eileen--Dexys Midnight Runners
14 The Other Guy--Little River Band
15 You Can't Hurry Love--Phil Collins
16 Be Good Johnny--Men at Work
17 Subdivisions--Rush
18 Stray Cat Strut--Stray Cats
19 Everytime I See Your Picture I Cry--Luba
20 Mirror Man--The Human League
21 She Controls Me--Strange Advance
22 We've Got Tonight--Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
23 The Woman in Me--Donna Summer
24 One on One--Daryl Hall & John Oates
25 You Are--Lionel Richie
26 Silhouettes--The Nylons
27 Breaking Us in Two--Joe Jackson
28 All Right--Christopher Cross
29 Separate Ways (World Apart)--Journey
30 Bad Boy--Ray Parker, Jr.

Diplomacy
U.S. Vice President George Bush, on a tour of western Europe, addressed representatives of NATO countries in Brussels, and indicated that he would invite possible alternatives to President Reagan's zero option plan for eliminating missiles from Europe.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Heaven is a Place on Earth--Belinda Carlisle

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Unpacking

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Lana Clarkson, 40. U.S. actress. Miss Clarkson appeared in a number of television programs, and in movies such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); My Favorite Year (1982); and Scarface (1983), but achieved notoriety as the woman who was shot and killed by record mogul Phil Spector in his mansion. Mr. Spector was convicted of second-degree murder, and is currently in prison serving a sentence of 19 years to life.